A positive choice: Further information

Useful organisations

Alzheimer Scotland
22 Drumsheugh Gardens, Edinburgh EH3 7RN
Website: www.alzscot.org
24 hour Dementia Helpline 0808 808 3000 (calls are free) Provides specialist information and support for people with dementia and their carers in Scotland and works on their behalf to improve public policies and services. There are local support groups throughout the country. The charity also runs the 24 hour Dementia Helpline and provides services around Scotland offering day and evening care, home care and other services, including information and assistance with claiming benefits and local authority financial assessments. Publications list available. Information pack available free to carers, from the Dementia Helpline. Calls to the Dementia Helpline are free (except calls from certain mobile phone networks). Useful publications include Money and legal matters: a guide

Alzheimer’s Society
Gordon House, 10 Greencoat Place, London SW1P 1PH; office: 020 7306 0606.
Helpline: 0845 300 0336, 8.30am – 6.30pm, calls charged at local rate.
Website: www.alzheimers.org.uk;
e-mail: info@alzheimers.org.uk
Provides information and support for people with dementia and their carers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Publications list available.

Age Concern Scotland
Causewayside House, 160 Causewayside, Edinburgh EH9 1PR Office: 0845 833 0200.
Website: www.ageconcernscotland.org.uk/
e-mail: enquiries@acscot.org.uk
Age Concern Scotland aims to improve services for all older people and campaigns on their behalf, and supports local groups which run practical services including day centres, visiting schemes and information. They also manage the Scottish Helpline for Older People (SHOP) 0845 125 9732 (10-4 Mon-Fri).
Factsheets available online or from information line include:

• Factsheet 10 - Local authority charging procedures for care homes (inc. free personal care)
• Factsheet 29 – Finding care home accommodation
• Factsheet 38 - Treatment of the former home as capital for people in care homes
• Factsheet 39 - Paying for care in a care home if you have a partner
• Factsheet 40 - Transfer of assets and paying for care in a care home

Care Commission
Headquarters, Compass House, 11 Riverside Drive, Dundee DD1 4NY; office: 01382 207100 or lo-call: 0845 60 30 890
Website: www.carecommission.com;
e-mail: Communications.Team@carecommission.com
The Care Commission regulates care services and oversees standards of care. It registers all care homes. Contact headquarters for details of your local Care Commission office, which can supply lists of care homes and copies of inspection reports.

Citizens Advice Bureau
Address in your local phone book, or from Citizen’s Advice Scotland, 0131 550 1000, or locate your nearest bureau on the CAS Website: www.cas.org.uk
CABx can advise you on welfare benefits and help with application forms. They can also help you find specialist help such as a solicitor.

Cruse Bereavement Care Scotland
Cruse Bereavement Care Scotland
Riverview House, Friarton Road, Perth PH2 8DF
Tel: 01738 444 178
Email: info@crusescotland.org.uk
Offers free information and advice to anyone who has been affected by a death, provides support and counselling one to one and in groups, offers education, support, information and publications to anyone supporting bereaved people.

Department for Work and Pensions
Your local office will be listed in the phone book. Look for the display advertisement in the business numbers section.
Benefit Enquiry Line for People with Disabilities: 0800 88 22 00 or, for textphone users only, 0800 24 33 55. Calls are free except from certain mobile phone networks.
Disability Living Allowance Helpline: 0845 712 3456 – advice on existing claims.
Pension Credit Claim Line: 0800 99 1234 – to find out if you are eligible and to make a claim.
Website: www.dwp.gov.uk/lifeevent/benefits/index.htm

Legal Services Agency
Operates two Mental Health Legal Representation Projects, one in Glasgow and one in Edinburgh. Their qualified solicitors give confidential advice on all aspects of the law relating to mental illness, brain injury and dementia. Initial advice is free. This service is open to all residents of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, City of Glasgow, Inverclyde, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dumbartonshire, East Lothian, City of Edinburgh, Midlothian and West Lothian Councils.

3rd Floor Fleming House, 134 Renfrew Street, Glasgow G3 6ST; 0141 353 3354 Tuesday mornings 11.00 am to 1.00 pm or phone for an appointment.

3rd Floor Princes House, 5 Shandwick Place, Edinburgh EH2 4RG: 0131 228 9993
Website: www.lsa.org.uk

Public Guardian
Hadrian House, Callendar Business Park, Callendar Road, Falkirk FK1 1XR; 01324 678300; Fax: 01324 678301.
Website: www.publicguardian-scotland.gov.uk; email opg@scotcourts.gov.uk
The Public Guardian registers continuing and welfare powers of attorney, authorisations to access funds, guardianship orders and intervention orders pronounced in terms of the Adults with Incapacity Act. He or she supervises guardians and people granted an intervention order and will investigate any complaints regarding the exercise of functions relating to the property or financial affairs of an adult relating to any of these, or any circumstances in which the property or financial affairs of an adult appear to be at risk.

Scottish Executive
For community care guidance.
Health Department, Community Care Division, St Andrew's House, Regent Road, Edinburgh EH1 3DG
www.show.scot.nhs.uk/sehd/ccd.asp

Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance
Melrose House, 69a George Street, Edinburgh EH2 2JG
Telephone: 0131 260 5380
Email: enquiry@siaa.org.uk
www.siaa.org.uk
An alliance of independent advocacy organisations – can advise on finding a local advocacy group.

Seniorline
0808 800 6565, 9am – 4pm Monday - Friday - calls are free except from certain mobile phone networks.
Welfare rights advice and information line run by Help the Aged.

Social Work Department
This is the part of your local authority, or council, which deals with community care services, assessing the need for guardianship and other legal provisions. In some councils, it may be called something else, such as the Community Services Department. The address is in your phone book under the local authority. For England and Wales the local authority Social Services Department is the equivalent body.

Solicitors
Many solicitors offer a free first interview service. A charge will be made for any further advice or work. Legal Aid may be available depending on the circumstances.

The Dementia Helpline (0808 808 3000) can send you a list of solicitors in your area who have an interest in adults with incapacity/mental health matters or you can read it on-line by following the link below.

Solicitors who have an interest in mental health

Acknowledgements
Many thanks to those carers who commented on the previous edition of this booklet and provided the quotes used.

Thanks also to: Merrill MacWilliam for the illustrations; Jim Pearson, Welfare Rights Service Manager, Alzheimer Scotland for his assistance with revising the text for this new edition; and Dr Garuth Chalfont, University of Sheffield, for permission to incorporate some additional items in the checklist on pages 20-24 from his work on connecting people with dementia to nature.